z:^ 


.^^. 


!?^-^ 
^f^^ 


'**«i,..  11-  \ 


:«W^..l-i# 


a 


A  DISCOURSE, 


DELIVERED    BEFORE 


THE  GENEBAL  CONVENTION 


OF    THE 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES, 


ST.  JAMES'S  CHURCH,  PHILADELFHM, 

On  the  21st  of  May,  1814. 
BY  THE  RIGHT  REV. 

THEODORE  DEHON,  D.  D., 

Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  South  Carolina. 
PUBLISHED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 


PHILADELPHIA, 

PUBLISHED  BY  BRADFORD  AND  INSKEEP 

G.  Palmer,  printer 

1814. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

WHEN  the  following  discourse  was  preached,  the 
time  of  the  convention  was  deemed,  by  the  writer,  too 
precious  to  admit  of  the  delivery  of  the  whole  of  it.  The 
parts  which  were  then  omitted,  are  given  in  the  publica- 
tion, in  the  humble  hope,  that  they  will  be  acceptable  to 
his  brethren;  and  render  the  discourse  more  practically 
useful  to  those  who  shall  read  it. 


A  DISCOURSE,  &c. 

Psalm  xlv.  13. 
Her  clothing  is  of  wrought  gold. 

Of  whom  speaketh  the  psalmist  this  ?  Of  the  church  ; 
whom  David,  with  the  eye  of  prophecy,  saw,  in  all  that 
glorious  beauty,  in  which,  in  the  age  of  her  maturit}- ,  she 
should  be  "  'kwtfght  unto  the  king,"  and  enjoy  tlie 
choicest  demonstrations  of  his  affection  and  favour. 
What  was  meant  by  her  clothing  in  the  psalmist's  mind, 
we  may  not  be  able  indisputably  to  ascertain;  but  we 
shall  not  materially  err,  if  we  consider  it  as  signifying 
those  offices  of  devotion,  in  which  she  is  seen  by  man- 
kind sublimely  attired;  and  on  the  days,  on  which  he 
vouchsafes  to  give  her  a  special  audience,  presents  her- 
self before  the  Lord  her  God.  In  this  view  of  their  im- 
port, the  words  of  the  text  have  been  taken  to  introduce 
a  discourse  upon  that  excellent  liturgy,  the  public  service 
of  our  common  prayer,  in  which  the  church  is  as  truly 
seen  by  us  as  she  was  by  the  psalmist,  in  a  clothing  of 
wrought  gold. 

Should  I  attempt,  in  a  single  discourse,  to  treat  fully 
of  the  liturgy  of  the  church,  I  should  wrong  the  subject, 
and  fill  your  minds  and  my  own  with  dissatisfaction.  It 
is  work  for  a  volume.  And  the  many  excellent  volumes 
in  which  its  character  is  analyzed,  and  its  perfection  de- 
veloped, render  unnecessary  any  efforts  of  mine  to  add  to 


jis  celebrity  or  illustrate  its  praise.  All,  therefore,  that  I 
sliall  ;um  to  do,  will  be,  to  point  out  to  you  some  of  its 
most  distinguished  j)roperties — pro^x^rties,  an  acquaintance 
with  which  is  indispensably  necessar}',  to  enable  us  to 
know  its  excellence,  and  to  use  it  in  such  a  manner  as 
\N  ill  render  it  diat  pure  and  holy,  that  becoming  and  ac- 
ceptable s:icrifice,  which  it  was  intended  we  should  offer 
in  it  to  God  and  the  Redeemer. 

That  }  ou  may  the  more  fully  see  the  importance  of  the 
subject,  allow  me,  before  I  proceed  to  the  discussion  of 
it,  to  recall  to  your  minds  the  important  truth,  that  tlie 
gaat,  the  chief  object  of  our  assembling  together  in  the 
siinctuar}',  is  to  \vorship  God.  Sermons  have,  in  modem 
times,  more  admirers  than  prayers  Immm^  But  whoever 
considers  the  authority  by  which  public  worship  is  insti- 
tuted, the  reasons  on  wliich  it  is  grounded,  and  the 
purposes  for  which  it  is  designed,  will  jx^rceive,  that  the 
first  business  for  w  hich  we  come  together  into  the  ti  mple 
is  to  acknowledge  the  Most  High  God  our  rode^n.  — 
to  recognize  our  relations  to  him,  and  pay  hw\ 
homage — to  seek  of  him  the  mercies  and  blessings  \\\  h 
we  need — and  in  acts  of  adoration  and  praise  to  ccIl- 
hnUe  his  glorious  name.  Preachmg  is  undoubtedly  an 
ordinance  of  the  Almighty ;  and  so  long  as  "  faith  shall 
come  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God," 
uist  be  an  ordinance  of  very  great  moment  to  the  salva- 
tion of  men.  But  it  is  nevertheless  secondary  in  nature 
and  importance  to  that  great,  that  leading,  that  most  in- 
tCR-sting  duty,  of  worshipping  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of 
holiness.  This  is  die  highest  act  in  which  our  nature 
can  be  eng-aged.  And  the  people  who  are  furnished  w  ith 
the  means  of  performing  it  most  perfecdy  arc  brought 

arest  to  the  angels  in  tlieir  privileges,  and  will,  if  they 


use  them  faithfully,  be  beheld  in  their  public  assemblies 
with  most  complacency  by  the  Almighty.  How  im- 
portant then  the  enquiry  concerning  the  properties  of  that 
service,  which  the  church  has  provided  for  us  to  perform, 
when  we  are  gathered  together  in  the  courts  of  our 
Maker !  What  are  these  properties  ?  I  would  call  your 
attention  to  those  which  follow — that  our  liturgy  is 
social — that  it  is  sensible — that  it  is  spiritual — that  it  is 
complete — that  it  is  well  arranged — and  that  it  is  holy. 
Under  these  heads,  may  be  brought  to  view  enough  of 
its  character,  to  confirm  our  attachment  to  it ;  we  may 
find  under  each  of  them  instruction  concerning  its  excel- 
lency, and  direction  concerning  its  use. 

Men  are  social  beings ;  and  when  they  are  assembled 
in  the  temples  of  the  Almighty,  their  natures  and  the  coni- 
munity  of  their  blessings  and  wants,  require,  that  thev 
should  offer  a  common  worship.  In  order  to  this,  a  form 
of  prayer  and  praise  is  necessary.  Without  it,  they 
cannot  associate  in  the  performance  of  the  service.  And 
he,  who  is  most  averse  to  this  idea,  will,  upon  reflection, 
perceive,  that  even  extempc  iry  prayers  are  forms  to  all 
\\\\o  hear  them ;  from  which  Jiey  cannot  wander  without 
relinquishing  their  part  in  th"  common  business  of  the 
congregation.  As  a  form  is  in  tlie  nature  of  the  tiling 
necessary,  so  established  forms  have  in  all  ages  of  the 
church  been  esteemed  most  conducive  to  the  pui*poses  of 
social  worship.  ,  They  were  used  by  God's  chosen 
people  in  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  and  the  tc-  /"  — 
they  ha\e  the  sanction  of  our  blessed  Lord — tL.y  were 
adopted  by  the  apostles  and  primitive  christians— and  are 
found  in  the  church  in  every  age,  from  their  time  to  the 
present  day.  B}'  such  stated  services,  the  j^eople  know 
beforehand  the  sacrifice  ^vhich  is  to  be  offered — thev  have 


it  as  it  were  in  their  hands — they  unitedly  bring  it  to  the 
altar  and  lay  it  thereon ;  it  is  their  offering,  as  well  as  the 
priest's.  Here,  then,  may  be  observed  the  liappy  adap- 
tation of  our  liturgy  to  the  social  character,  which 
.hould  apiKTtain  to  the  worship  of  the  christian  temple. 
Whereas,  it  is  not  easy  for  us  to  conceive,  how,  having 
wo  such  established  service,  we  could  assent  to  that, 
\s hich  we  had  ne\er  contemplated ;  or  offer  that,  which 
we  never  possessed. 

But,  further,  that  the  service  of  the  sanctuary  may  be, 
as  it  should  be,  perfectly  social,  the  people  should  have 
in  it  an  active  part.  In  the  prayers,  as  well  as  the 
praises,  with  their  bodies,  as  well  as  with  their  spirits, 
they  should  all,  after  an  orderly  manner,  be  engaged, 
that  the  service  may  be  most  truly  the  service  of  all. 

Conformably  with  this  principle  was  our  liturgy  con- 
structed. The  people  liave  in  it  an  active  service,  as  well 
as  the  priest ;  sometimes,  as  in  the  collects  and  the  prayers, 
or  adorations  which  have  been  offered,  expressing  their 
assent  by   an    audible    and    devout   amen;    sometimes, 

s  in  tlie  versicles,  echoing  the  petition  which  the  priest 
has  made,  or  enforcing  it  with  new  considerations ;  some- 
times, as  in  the  litany,  when  the  minister  has  offered 
the  suffrage,  tiiking  as  it  were  with  holy  ardour  the  words 
out  of  his  mouth,  and  uttering  the  deprecation,  or  the 
( ntrcaty ;  and  sometimes,  as  in  the  holy  hymns,  the 
psalms,  and  the  doxologies,  responding  in  alternate  verse 
iIk  |)raises  of  God,  the  desires  of  men,  the  holiness  and 
l.oiua^c,  tlie  faith,  and  hopes,  and  charity  of  religion — 
liius  exhibiting  an  humble  imitation  of  the  worship  of 
heaven ;  in  which  we  are  told  the  celestial  beings  cry 
•  >ne  to    another.      How    admirably    is    this    arrangement 

dnpled  to  exhibit  tlic  jx^rfcetion  of  the  beauty  of  social 


worship !  Allow  me  then  to  notice  the  importance,  that, 
in  order  to  the  production  of  its  due  effect,  the  people 
should  refrain,  on  the  one  hand,  from  repeating  the  parts, 
which  belong  exclusively  to  the  minister,  as  the  exhorta- 
tions, the  absolution,  the  commandments,  the  benedic- 
tion, and  those  prayers  which  are  to  be  said  by  him  alone, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  witli  pure  hearts,  and  hum- 
ble, yet  audible  voices,  they  should  perform  the  parts, 
which  belong  exclusively  to  them.  The  responses  are  a 
beautiful,  very  ancient,  peculiar,  and  most  useful  part  of 
the  liturgy  of  our  church.  By  the  solemn  performance 
of  them  the  people  may  keep  their  own  attention  en- 
gaged, may  animate  him  who  is  ministering  among  them, 
and  may  kindle  devotion  one  in  another.  Yea,  if  the 
little  children  were  taught  to  pronounce  with  attention 
and  proper  solemnity  these  parts  of  divine  service,  it 
would  add  to  the  beauty  and  utility  of  public  w^orship ; 
and  in  our  assemblies  would  be  exhibited  the  verity  of 
the  inspired  declaration,  out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and 
sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise. 

To  excite  you  to  join  diligently  and  with  reverence  in 
the  service  of  common  pra}'er,  I  need  only  guide  your 
attention  to  the  sublime  extent  of  the  application  of  its 
social  character.  It  is  not  only  in  this  house,  in  which 
you  assemble,  that  in  all  its  parts  it  is  sociably  perform- 
ed. The  same  prayers  and  praises,  in  the  same  words, 
arc  offered,  perhaps  at  the  same  liour,  with  the  same  faith, 
by  ten  thousand  tongues,  to  the  same  God  and  father  of 
all.  From  all  christian  parts  of  the  globe  the  amen  re- 
sounds, which  you  here  utter;  and  the  doxolog}^  is 
raised,  in  which  you  are  here  called  upon  to  bear  a  part. 
It  is  not  in  this  age  only,  in  which  you  live,  that  this 
service   conveys  the    devotions  of  christians  to   hea\'cn. 

B 


10 

III  some  of  the  ejaculations  it  contains,  the  first  disciples 
bruitlud  their  praises  and  their  wishes  to  the  Most  High. 
Its  collects  have,  many  of  them,  for  many  hundreds  of 
yciirs  been  the  vehicles  of  the  public  devotions  of  the 
church.  And  upon  some  of  its  apostrophes  lias  the  last 
breath  of  distinguished  martyrs  trembled,  whose  piety, 
durii)g  their  lives,  was  refreshed  with  its  hymns,  and  its 
psiilms.  It  is  not  under  the  gospel  dispensation  alone, 
that  some  parts  of  this  service  have  been  used  to  express 
the  common  devotions  of  the  fliithful.  There  are  hymns 
in  it  which  were  sung  by  saints  under  the  mosaic  dis- 
pensation ;  and  in  the  use  of  the  psalms  particularly,  the 
church  of  the  New  Testament  is  found  in  society  with  the 
cliurch  of  the  Old  ;  for  in  these  sacred  compositions,  not 
the  emotions  of  David's  heart  only  were  vented,  but  much 
of  the  worship  of  God's  ancient  people  did  consist.  It  is 
not  onl>  in  the  church  militant  upon  earth,  that  this 
serN'ice,  in  some  of  its  parts,  is  used.  We  have  borrowed 
from  the  church  triumphant  in  heaven  their  gratulator}' 
anthem,  and  their  perpetual  hymn,  and  have  reason  to 
believe  that  their  voices  are  in  concert  with  ours  when 
they  sing  the  song  of  the  redeemed.  How  sublime  is 
this  view  of  the  communion  and  fellowship  of  the  church, 
under  the  mosiiic  and  christian  dispensations,  in  different 
ages,  and  in  distant  nations,  on  earth  and  in  heaven,  in 
the  use  of  some  part  or  other  of  that  holy  liturgy,  which 
it  is  our  distinguishing  felicity  to  have  received  from  our 
fathers !  Who  would  not  wish,  in  the  temple,  to  bear 
^;)  n  his  lips  those  psalms  and  prayers,  in  which  the 
|^lori.)us  company  of  the  apostles,  the  goodly  fellowship 
of  the  proplKts,  and  the  noble  army  of  martyrs,  have 
uttered  their  devotions  to  God !  How  dead  must  he  be 
to  the  finest  associations,  which  can  affect  the  mind,  who 


11 

is  not  animated  to  a  devout  and  fervent  performance  of 
his  part  of  the  service  of  the  sanctuary,  by  the  considera- 
tion, that,  upon  this  same  censer,  which  the  church  holds 
out  to  him,  incense  hath  been  put  by  those  hands,  which 
are  now  extended  before  the  throne  of  the  Almighty ; 
and  that  as  its  smoke  ascended,  those  eyes  were  lifted 
up  to  heaven,  which  are  now  fixed  upon  the  visible  glory 
of  God  and  the  Lamb. 

This  social  property  of  our  liturgy  forms  its  most 
prominent  feature ;  and  endears  it  to  us,  as  suitable  to 
our  nature,  and  friendly  to  the  best  feelings  of  the  heart. 
Would  to  God  its  beauty  were  noticed  by  every  member 
of  our  congregations,  and  commended  by  his  practice  to 
others !  Pleasant  and  elevating  is  the  scene,  which  the 
christian  temple  exhibits,  when  the  priest  and  the  people 
are  as  one,  to  make  one  oifering  unto  the  Lord;  and 
from  every  mouth,  from  the  infant  of  days  and  from  the 
old  man  who  hath  not  filled  his  days,  there  arises  the 
alternate  adoration  or  the  assenting  amen. 

But  this  leads  me  to  the  second  property  of  our  liturgy 
to  be  noticed,  viz.  that  it  is  sensible.  By  this  I  mean 
that  it  has  a  body,  as  well  as  spirit ;  that  it  is  adapted  to 
the  nature  of  beings  who  have  senses,  as  well  as  souls. 
All  worship,  to  be  becoming,  must  be  suitable  to  the 
nature  of  those  who  offer  it,  as  well  as  to  his  nature  to 
whom  it  is  offered.  A  worship,  wholly  spiritual,  would 
not  be  proper  for  man  in  his  present  state.  It  would  be 
the  act  of  but  half  of  his  natiu'C.  To  be  complete,  all 
his  faculties  must  be  employed  in  it.  With  his  body, 
as  well  as  his  spirit,  he  must  worship — for  each  is  a  part 
of  himself,  each  is  the  offspring  of  divine  power,  each  is 
a  partaker  of  the  divine  blessings,  each  is  redeemed  by 
the  divine  mercy,  each  needs  tlic  divine  protection,  and 


12 

boili  are  God's.  Indeed  it  is  difficult  to  conceive,  how, 
without  corporeal  acts,  the  important  quality  of  sociality 
in  \\orship,  upon  which  we  have  already  dilated,  could 
be  maintained.  If  the  service  be  not  sensible,  the  signs 
must  be  wanting,  by  which  alone  men  can  manifest  their 
association  in  a  common  work,  to  the  world  and  to  each 
other.  Shall  I  be  told,  that  the  spirit  may  be  engaged 
when  the  body  is  still  ?  It  may.  But  the  spirits  of  men 
cannot,  in  this  present  state,  evidence  to  men,  what  are 
their  eng-agements,  but  by  signs  and  deeds.  If  there  be 
in  the  assemblies  of  the  saints  no  sound  of  words,  and  no 
consentaneous  posture  of  bodies,  there  may  be  sincerity 
in  the  indi\idual ;  there  may  be  an  insulated  altar  in 
(  vcr}'  bosom ;  but  the  visible  chain  is  wanting,  whicli 
should  connect  all  together;  and  conduct  the  spirit,  by 
\vhich  one  is  animated,  through  the  whole.  On  these 
accounts,  mankind  have  been  impelled,  by  the  dictates  of 
reason,  in  every  country,  to  in\est  their  public  worship 
^vith  rites  and  ceremonies  ;  and  with  an  eye  to  these  prin- 
ciples, the  wise  compilers  of  our  liturgy  have  rendered  it 
a  sensible  ser\'ice.  They  ha^  e  adapted  it  to  our  state  of 
being  upon  "  this  visible  diurnal  sphere,"  guarding  with 
equal  caution  against  the  impalpable  reveries  of  the 
mystic,  and  the  tedious  mummeries  of  the  formalist ;  on 
the  one  hand  avoiding  to  incumber  the  service  of  the 

anctuary  with  such  a  mass  of  ceremonies,  as  would 
obscua-,  and  overwhelm  its  spirit,  and  restraining  them- 
selves, on  the  other  hand,  from  aftecting  a  worship  so 
abstract  ;md  imixrceptible,  as  would  not  become  man  on 

!ie  earth;  and  indeed  we  know  not  ^^hcthcr  any  such  is 

tfered  in  heaven.  It  is  here  then  }ou  will  be  struck 
ilh   the   importance  of  the  audible   voice,    ^^  ith   \\  hich 

he  congagation,  as  well  us  the  priest,  are   to  celebrate 


13 

divine  service,  that  they  may  honour  God  v/ith  thd  best 
member  which  they  have.  Here  you  will  perceive  the 
propriety  of  using,  to  enliven  and  beautify  the  worship  of 
the  sanctuary,  that  faculty,  which  is  given  to  men,  of 
clothing  their  thoughts  and  their  feelings,  their  faith,  their 
hopes,  and  their  love  in  the  ravishing  charms  of  melodi- 
ous sounds.  Here  you  will  discern  the  fitness  of  that 
decent  attire,  which  the  church  has  prescribed  for  her 
priests ;  of  that  adoration,  which  she  expresses  by  the 
consecration  to  the  honour  of  the  Almighty,  of  temples 
meet  for  his  service  ;  and  of  those  "  outward  visible 
signs  of  inward  and  spiritual  grace,"  ^vhich  she  has 
received  in  the  sacraments  from  her  Lord,  and  transmits 
as  hallowed  to  posterity.  Here  you  will  see  the  reasons 
of  those  holy  instructions,  which  teach  us  to  fall  low  on 
our  knees,  when  we  confess  our  sins  to  Almighty  God, 
or  supplicate  his  mercies  ;  and  to  stand  upon  our  feet, 
when  we  declare  the  articles  of  fluth,  which  we  are 
resolved  to  maintain,  or  with  elevated  emotions  proclaim 
the  greatness  and  the  goodness,  whereby  the  Most  High 
hath  made  us  glad.  These  sensible  acts,  this  employ- 
ment of  the  faculties  and  posture  of  our  bodies,  the  wor- 
shipping our  Creator,  how  natural  arc  they,  how  expres- 
sive, how  becoming  our  condition  in  this  state  of  being  ! 
To  shew  you  in  what  value  they  were  held  by  those  w  ho 
were  best  able  to  estimate  them,  need  I  turn  }our  atten- 
tion to  Solomon,  kneeling  upon  his  knees,  when  he  offers 
his  prayer  to  God  ;  and  rising  upon  his  feet,  and  stretch- 
ing forth  his  hands,  when  in  the  name  of  the  Almighty 
he  blesses  the  people?  Need  I  bring  to  your  view  the 
congregation  of  Israel,  the  chosen  and  divinely  instructed 
people,  bowing  their  heads,  when  they  received  the  bene- 
diction of  the  Most  High  ;  and  raising  their  bodies  and 


14 

their  voices,  when  liiey  magnify  his  name  ?  Need  I  call 
to  vour  recollection,  the  striking  picture  which  the  spirit 
of  revelation  hath  given  us,  of  the  inhabitants  of  heaven, 
veiling  their  faces,  and  casting  down  their  crowns,  when 
they  worship  him  who  sitteth  upon  the  throne  ?  Need  I 
take  }ou  to  Gethsemane,  and  shew  you  Jesus,  tlie  pattern 
of  all  that  is  perfect,  thrice  kneeling  down  before  his 
Father,  while  he  thrice  utters  the  same  earnest  supplica- 
tion ?  No  ;  I  need  not.  These,  and  other  examples,  arc 
familiar  to  your  minds.  And  whenever  you  have  pon- 
dered seriously  the  import  of  prayer  and  praise,  con- 
science has  testified  to  yoii  the  wisdom  of  the  rubrics 
which  teach  us  to  do  likewise.  They  are  but  repetitions 
of  rubrics  of  nature.  Is  other  evidence  of  their  fitness 
needed,  than  that  which  is  furnished  by  reason  ?  You 
hear  it  in  the  voice  of  the  Almighty  himself,  calling  upon 
you  in  his  holy  word,  to  glorifij  God  in  your  bodies,  and 
in  your  spirits^  which  are  his. 

This  leads  me  to  a  third  property  of  our  liturgy, 
worthy  of  observation,  viz.  that  it  is  spiritual.  Impor- 
tant as  it  is,  that  our  religious  services  should  have  a 
sensible  form,  this  form  ^\-ould  be  of  no  worth,  if  it  were 
destitute  of  life.  The  audible  voice  is  of  no  value,  but 
as  it  expresses  the  thoughts  of  the  heart.  The  bended 
knee  is  of  no  significance,  but  as  it  represents  the  hum- 
Ijled  soul.  God  is  a  spirit,  and  they  that  worship  him 
must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  And  as  a  spirit 
Ik-  is  tnily  \N()rshipped  in  the  service  of  our  church.  No 
imiige  of  the  CJodhead  is  contemplated  b}'  our  minds. 
By  no  attempt  to  rcj^rcscnt  the  Almighty  to  our  senses, 
is  the  divine  nature  dishonoured,  and  our  omi  weakness 
betrayed.  As  the  Great  Spirit,  Mho  pervadedi  all  sj^acc, 
and    inJiabitelh  eternit}-,    wc    address    him — whom,    not 


15 

having  seen,  we  love ;  in  whom,  tliough  now  we  see  him 
not,  yet  believing,  we  rejoice,  with  joy  imspcakable  and 
full  of  glory.  The  worship  which  is  rendered  to  him  is, 
too,  in  a  high  degree  spiritual.  In  every  part  of  it  there 
is  life.  Within  the  beautiful  and  holy  form  there  is  a 
soul^  fraught  with  the  treasures  of  divine  truth,  and  pure 
as  has  been  found  on  earth,  since  the  transgression  of 
man.  Is  it  said  that  it  is  cold  ?  Where  is  manifested 
more  fervent  affection,  than  in  its  addresses,  or  more 
intense  devotion,  than  in  its  litany  and  hymns?  Is  it 
said  to  confide  too  much  in  its  exterior?  The  faith, 
Avhich  it  implies,  is  seated  in  the  spirit;  the  blessings, 
which  it  most  celebrates  and  deserves,  are  spiritual ;  and 
it  is  skilfully  contrived  to  engage  our  souls  in  the  acts  of 
it,  and  to  carry  them,  on  a  stream  of  sacred  emotions, 
perpetually  flowing,  to  the  foot  of  the  mount  of  God. 
Is  it  said,  that  it  affords  not  scope  for  the  feelings,  which 
are  sometimes  kindled  in  the  heart,  when  it  approaches  its 
Maker ;  nor  freedom  to  the  action  of  the  soul,  when  the 
spirit  of  devotion  comes  upon  it  ?  Which  of  the  affec- 
tions, or  dispositions  of  man,  that  is  proper  to  be  engaged 
in  the  worship  of  his  Maker,  may  not  find  employment 
and  vent  for  itself  in  the  psalms  and  in  some  or  other 
of  tlic  collects?  and  in  what  production  of  the  most 
rapturous  being,  has  piety  taken  a  loftier  flight,  than  in 
her  favourite  Te  Deirm^  the  hymn  so  eminently  spiritual, 
so  wonderfully  sublime,  that  one  can  scarce  forbear  to 
believe,  that  the  lips  which  first  uttered  it,  were  touched 
with  a  coal  from  the  altar  of  heaven  ?  Is  it  said  that  it  is 
formal?  What  faculty  of  our  nature,  meet  for  the  work, 
is  not  brought  into  action  in  the  due  performance  of  the 
common  prayer  ?  Our  souls  and  all  tiiat  is  widiin  us,  our 
undcrstandiiig,  our  will,   and   our  affections,  all  in  this 


16 

service   have  their   part    and   occupation;    and  he,  wha 
engages  in  it  as  he  ought,  cannot  fail  to  enjoy  a  very  near 
communion  with  his  God.     In  short,  humiUty,  and  faitli, 
and   love,   and  gratitude,   and  sincerit}^   have  all  liere  a 
place,   that  they  may  come   and  adorn    the    worship  of 
the   sanctuary ;     and    the    propensity    of   our    minds    to 
wander,  even  when  our  tongues  are  engaged,  is  checked 
with  the  happiest  skill,  by  those  variations  and  acclama- 
tions, which  n(jw  relieve,  and  now  quicken  attention  ;  and 
by  those  sudden  breaks,  and  frequent  apostrophes,  which 
remind  us  of  the  nature  of  our  work,  and  of  the  presence 
of  the  Almight}'.     It  is  true,  all  this  may  be  overlooked, 
or  disregarded.     In  our  temples,  with  all  the  spirituality 
of  our  service,   there  may  pass  from  our  lips  an  empty 
sound — our  hands    may    offer    an    unhallowed    oblation. 
But  who,  tliat  would  worship  the  Lord  his  God  as  he 
ouglit,  will  not  be  careful  to  engage  the   powers  of  his 
mind,  and  affections  of  his  heart,  in  this  his  highest  duty  ? 
To  what  purpose  shall  we,  as  taught  by  the  Redeemer, 
iddress  the  Deity  as  our  parent,  if  we  have  none  of  the 
feelings,  which  the  idea  of  a  fadicr,  of  a  father  in  heaven, 
of  a  father  who  is  God,  ought  to  excite?     With  what 
benefit  arc  we  so  often  reminded,  in  the  beginning  and 
nd  of  our  prayers,  of  the  attributes  of  God,  and  media- 
tion of  Christ,  if  we  do  not  exert  that  reverence  and  fear, 
tliiit  faitli  and  hope,  that  affection  imd  confidence,  which 
lie   very   frequent  recurrence  of  these  great  ideas,  was 
It  signed  to  inspire?     Where  is  the  propriety,  when  xve 
live  s;iid,  (ue  trust  with  simplicity  and  sincerity),   ''the 
Lord  Ik.'  with  you,"  in  replying,  ''and  with  thy  spirit," 
if  the  heart  do  not  wish  what  the  lips  express?     What 
honour  c;in  result  to  the  Almighty,  or  >vhat  advantage  to 
'"vv^K.  V,,  from  pronouncing  the  customary  amen,  if  wq 


17 

thereby  assent  to  that,  to  which  we  have  not  listened  ;  or 
ratify  that,  about  which  we  are  indifferent.  Can  we 
expect  that  the  doxology  of  the  tongue  will  be  reported 
by  the  spirits,  that  minister  about  the  throne^  if  it  be  un- 
accompanied by  the  alleluia  of  the  soul  ?  O,  let  us  not 
separate  the  life  from  the  form — the  soul  from  the  body 
of  our  excellent  liturgy  !  With  its  sensible  let  us  com- 
bine its  spiritual  property ;  that  thus  we  may  offer  to  God 
a  reasonable  service.  With  us,  who  in  this  respect  are 
so  signally  blessed,  what  apology  can  be  found,  if  the 
Almighty  shall  have  occasion  to  say  of  us,  this  people 
draweth  nigh  unto  me  with  their  mouth,  and  honoureth 
me  with  their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me  I 

But  it  is  time  for  me  to  pass  to  another  distinguishing 
property  of  our  liturgy,  its  comprehensiveness,  or  full- 
ness.    Here  was  the  labour,  this  was  the  difficulty,  in 
compiling  a  book  of  common  prayer,  to  provide  for  the 
claims  and  expectations  of  God,  and  for  the  conditions, 
and  wants,  and  wishes,  and  duties  of  all  estates  of  men ; 
so  that  of  such  honour,  as  we  unworthy  creatures  can 
render  unto    our    heavenly   Father,   tliere    should  be  no 
deficiency  ;  and  none  of  his  worshippers  be  left  without 
such  instiTJctions,  as  they  would  need  to  receive,  such 
oblations,  as  it  would  become  them  to  offer,  and  such 
supplications,  as  they  might  wish  to  make.     And  when 
we  consider,  how  successfully  the  framers  of  our  liturgy 
have  accomplished  this,  we  must  look  upon  it  as  among 
the  most  wonderful  achievements  of  wisdom  and  piety, 
which  the  world  lias  known.     They  have  recurred  to  the 
oracles  of  truth,  and  have  brought  the  Old  and  the  New 
Testament,  to  stand  daily  and  always  as  parts  of  the 
liturgy ;   that  thus  it  might  be  enriched  with  perennial 
sources  of  wisdom,  and  instruction,  and  peacc^.     They 

C 


18 

ha\c  gone  to  the  Jewish  church ;  and  have  brought 
tliencc  the  uoiiderful  psahns,  and  many  hymns,  which 
the  spirit  of  God  seems  to  have  inspired  his  servants  to 
indite  for  the  use  of  his  people.  They  have  had  recourse 
to  die  first  christians,  and  the  first  churches ;  to  the 
fadiers,  and  to  their  immediate  descendants ;  and  from 
tiicir  precious  stores  have  obtained  parts  of  the  primitive 
liturgies,  venerable  for  their  antiquity  and  holy  simplicity. 
'I'hey  have  looked  among  the  christians  of  the  eastern  and 
of  the  western  empire;  into  the  Greek  church  and  into 
(he  church  of  Rome  ;  and  from  them  have  taken  many 
most  excellent  prajers,  versicles,  and  litany-suffrages, 
which  they  have  rendered  of  great  value  and  utility  hi 
the  accomplishment  of  their  work.  To  these  rich 
materials,  they  have  added  many  productions  of  their 
()\vn  pious  and  enlarged  minds  ;  productions,  which,  in 
purity  of  language,  sanctity  of  sentiment,  and  true  cha- 
racter of  devotion,  are  not  inferior  to  the  generality  of 
those,  with  which  they  are  combined.  From  diis  mass 
of  materials,  they  separated  whatever  was  gross,  discor- 
dant, or  unnecessiiiy ;  and  with  the  rest  composed  the 
service,  which  enriches  and  adorns  our  church.  Thus 
you  perceive,  diat  from  the  richest  mines,  there  has  from 
time  to  time  been  collected  in  large  abundance,  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  work,  the  choicest  gold  ;  and  under  die 
following  head,  which  will  treat  of  the  arrangement  of 
the  service,  will  see,  that  the  gold  has  been  ^\  rought  into 
liiis  clothing  of  the  church,  with  exquisite  skill  and 
finished  effect.  At  present  our  concern  is  only  widi  the 
fulness  of  die  liturgy. 

Let  us  consider  it  w ith  respect  to  die  Being  to  whom 
its  adorations  are  addressed.  He  is  recognized  and  wor- 
>hipiH:d  in  his  great  chai-acters  of  our  Creator,  Redeemer, 


19 

and  Sanctifier.     His  glorious  attributes,  as  fiir  as  they  arc 
known  to  us,  are  all  of  them  celebrated.     That  confession 
of  sins,  acknowledgment  of  dependence,  thanksgiving  for 
blessings,  adoration  of  his  greatness,  supplication  for  his 
favour,  and  avowal  of  allegiance  to  him,  and  all  those  dis- 
positions and  affections  towards  the  Deity,  w^hich  man 
should  possess  and  manifest,  are  provided  for  in  this  litur- 
gy ;   and,  conformably  with  the  divine  canon,  God  in  all 
its  parts  is  glorified,  tlirough  Christ  Jesus. 
.   Consider  it  with  respect  to  the  beings,  by  whom  it  is 
to  be  used.     How    admirably   adapted   to    instruct  the 
ignorant,  and  remind  the  well  informed,  in  what  they  are 
to  believe  and  do,  is  the  reading  of  the  holy  scriptures  in 
order  throughout  the  year ;    the  rehearsal  in  the  creed, 
whenever  they  assemble  and  meet  together,  of  a  summary 
of  the  truths,  which  God  has  revealed  to  be  embraced 
and  cherished  by  them ;  and  the  declaration  in  the  de- 
calogue, of  his  will  and  pleasure  concerning  their  conduct ! 
Who  that  attends  statedly  upon  this  service  can  long  be 
ignorant,  what  is  good,  and  what  the  Lord  his  God  doth 
reqidre  of  him !     So  full  is  it  with  respect  to  the  truths  of 
Christianity,  that  it  has  been  w^ell  observed,  a  complete 
body   of  divinity   might    be   easily    framed    out  of  the 
words    it   contains.      With   what   felicity,    also,    are   its 
prayers    and    praises  so  framed,  as  to  embrace,   almost 
without  an.  exception,   the  wants   and   the    blessings  of 
every  human  being !     Is  there  a  lust  or  passion,  a  vice  or 
misery,  an  evil  or  danger,  common  to  mankind,  which  is 
not  in  it  deprecated  and  deplored  ?     Is  there  a  grace  of 
Christianity,   a  virtue,  which    can   adorn    and   bless    the 
human   character,  a  thing  essential  to  life  or  godliness, 
which  is  not  celebrated  in  it,  and  devoutly  sought  ?     Is 
there  a  condition  of  prosperity  or  adversity,   of  joy  or 


20 

fibrrow,  to  which  man  can  be  brought,  in  which  he  may 
not  find  vent  lor  his  wishes  in  that  eminently  complete 
production,  the  litany ;  and  for  his  praises,  in  the  thanks- 
giving, and  the  psalms  ?  As  was  the  case  with  the  food, 
furnished  ibr  the  Israehtes  in  the  wilderness,  there  is  in 
this  service  provision  made  for  every  man,  according  to 
his  necessities,  and  the  necessities  of  his  household. 

But  that  which  renders  this  property  of  our  liturgy 
very  admirable,  is  the  skill  with  which  it  is  so  framed,  as 
to  be  adapted  to  the  use  ai  all  classes  and  orders  of  men% 
The  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  old  and 
the  young,  the  ruler  and  the  subject,  the  master  luid  the 
slave,  tlie  saint  and  the  sijiner,  may  each  find  in  it  an 
oblation,  meet  for  him  to  offer,  and  a  blessing  worthy  to 
be  thankfully  received.     It  may  be  used  without  per- 
plexity by  the  mean  and  the  ignorant,  and  by  the  wise 
and  the  mighty  without  disgust.     The  plainest  may  un- 
derstand it ;  and  it  may  entertain  all  the  faculties  of  the 
most  refined.     With  a  felicity,  rarely  to  be  found  in  any 
human  production,  its  fulness  is  such,  and  so  continued, 
that  the  prince  and  the  beggar  may  use  it  together,  and 
both    find    in    it,    becoming    devotion,    instruction,    and 
delight.     It  has  been  objected  to  it,  that  it  is  too  long. 
But  when  with  serious  deliberation  we  have  considered 
the  matter,  we   shall   discover   unexpected  difficulty   in 
selecting  the  parts  \\\i\\  which  ue  ^v•ould  most  willingly 
dispense  ;  and  shall  perceive  that  no  part  can  be  removed 
from  it,  without  impairing  its  strength,  disturbing  its  pro- 
portions, and  diminishing  its  fulness. 

From  the  fulness  of  the  liturgy,  we  pass  to  the  arrange- 
ment of  its  parts.     A  mass  of  materials,  however  great 
and  valuable,  can  excite  but  little  admiration,  and  be  of 
but  little  utUit)-,  till  it  is  reduced  to  some  form  and  order. 


H 

It  has  been  said  that  order  is  heaven's  first  hw.     All  tli6 
works  of  God,  from  the   disposition  of  the  parts,  which 
form  the  humblest  flower  of  the  field,  to  the  disposition 
of  the  planets  and  stars,  which  form  the  magnificence  of 
unbounded  space,  are  doubtless  conformed  to  the  princi- 
ples, and  exhibit,  to  the  e}'e  which  can  ken  the  whole,  the 
beauty  of  order.     And  man,  who  was  made  originally  in 
the  image  of  God,  and  is  taught  in  the  gospel  to  aspire 
after  a  recovery  of  that  image,  should  in  all  his  concerns, 
but  especially  in  the   worship  which  he  renders  to  the 
Being,  who  is  the  author  of  beauty  and  lover  of  harmonj^ 
observe  and  cherish  order.     Without  this,  the  service  he 
renders  must  produce  a  jargon  with  tlie  very  nature  of  the 
Being,  to  whom  it  is  addressed.     In  the  prophetic  vision, 
which  the  psalmist  had  of  the  church,  when  in  the  age  of 
her  maturity  she  should   be  espoused  to  her  Lord,  he 
remarks,  that  **  she  should  be  brought  unto  the  king  in 
raiment  of  needlework,"    intimating  not  only,   that  her 
attire  should  not  be  plain,  coarse,  or  common,  but  that  it 
should  be  costly,  and  adorned  by  the  skilful,  according  to 
the  unchangeable  principles  of  art  and  excellency.     We 
have  mentioned  as  a  fifth  property  of  our  liturgy,  worthy 
to  be  noticed,  that  it  is  well  arranged ;  and  if  we  advert  to 
it,  we  shall  find,  that  the  golden  materials  of  which  it  is 
composed,  are  not  thrown  together  in  splendid  confusion, 
but  disposed  systematically,  and  in  such  a  way,  as  to 
produce    the    great  ends    of    an*angement,    convenience, 
pleasure,    and   the    best  accomplishment   of    the   effect 
proposed. 

The  parts  of  our  service  are  so  disposed  as  to  produce 
a  variety,  which  is  at  once  convenient  and  delightful  to 
the  worshipper.  The  corruptible  body  too  much  presses 
down  the  mind  ;  and  the  mind  itself,  in  the  present  state. 


IS  t(xj  weak  to  be  loni^  continued  upon  the  same  stretcli 
with  much  satisfaction.  On  tliis  account,  with  wise 
idaptation  to  the  infirmities  as  well  as  powers  of  our 
nature,  and  in  liumble  imitation  of  the  oeconomy  of  the 
Great  Creator,  in  the  production  of  his  works,  our  liturgy 
is  rendered  "  various  ; 


that  the  mind 


Of  desultory  man,  studious  of  chan^, 
—  may  be  indulged.'* 

This  variety  is,  in  a  happy  manner,  produced  by  the 
division  of  the  service  into  many  short  prayers  ;  whereby 
the  thoughts  and  affections  are  concentered  a  little  while 
upon    one   subject,    and    then   relieved  by   transition   to 
another ;   excited  afresh  in  each  by  the  new  address  with 
which  it  begins,  and  resting  a  moment  upon  the  amen  at 
the  end.     These  frequent  addresses  direct  our  attention, 
each  one  of  them,  to  a  distinct  attribute  of  God ;  and  thus, 
in  the  course  of  the  service,  all  the  parts  of  the  glory  of 
his  character  with  which  we  are   acquainted,  in  grateful 
succession  pass  before  us.      Nor  is  it  \\\\\\  an  idle  vola- 
tility, that  tliis  transition  from  one  attribute  of  the  Deity  to 
another  is  so  frequently  made ;  but  every  addi'ess  is  with 
great  felicity  adapted  to  the  subject  of  the  pra}  er,  which 
begins  with  it — a  thing  worthy  to  be  observed,  that  when 
in  the  use  of  these  various  collects,   we   pray  with  the 
spirit,  we  may  pray  with  the  understanding  also.     Thus, 
when  we  are  about  to  confess  our  sins  and  implore  the 
forgiveness  of  them,  that  we  may  be  filled  with  that  union 
of  fear  and  hope,  which  becomes  sincere  penitents  Ixfore 
the  throne  of  the  heavenly  grace,  we  are  directed  to  con- 
template and  address  him  before  whom  we  bow,  as  an 
''Almighty   and  most   merciful   Father:'     Thus,  when 


23 

about  to  beseech  him  at  his  holy  table,  to  prepare  us,  by 
cleansing  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts,  perfectly  to  love 
him,  and  worthily  to  magnify  his  holy  name,  we  look  up 
to  him  as  the  being,  "  unto  whom  all  hearts  are  open,  all 
desires  known,  and  from  whom  no  secrets  are  hid." 
Thus,  when,  in  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  the 
gospel,  we  are  about  to  offer  supplications  for  the  rulers 
of  the  land,  we  address  him,  as  "  the  high  and  mighty 
ruler  of  the  universe,  who  doth  from  his  throne  behold 
all  the  dwellers  upon  earth."  And  in  like  manner,  when, 
with  the  comprehensive  benevolence  of  our  holy  religion, 
we  are  about  to  pray  for  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men, 
or  to  offer  thanks  for  all  the  blessings  enjoyed  by  us,  and 
by  all  men,  we,  in  the  former  case,  approach  him  as  "the 
Creator  and  preserver  of  all  mankind,"  and,  in  the  latter, 
as  *'  the  Father  of  all  mercies."  And  all  this  in  con- 
formity with  the  example  of  our  blessed  Lord,  who,  in 
the  inimitable  prayer  he  hath  given  us,  that  we  may  be 
filled  with  the  filial  reverence  and  affection  which  we 
ought  to  feel  when  approaching  God,  hath  taught  us  in 
the  beginning  of  it,  to  call  upon  him,  as  "  our  Father ;" 
and  that  we  may  have  confidence  in  his  power  to  do  what 
we  ask,  hath  reminded  us,  that  he  is  "  in  heaven." 

The  variety,  however,  which  so  much  enlivens  and 
beautifies  our  service,  does  not  consist  wholly,  nor 
chiefly,  in  the  division  of  it  into  many  prayers.  How- 
ever numerous  the  parts  of  worship  may  be,  if  they  be  all 
of  the  same  kind,  without  change  or  variation  of  their 
nature,  the  mind  would  become  satiated  with  the  same- 
ness, and  wearied  with  the  repetition.  The  humblest 
penitent  might  be  oppressed  by  prolonged  confession,  if 
no  recolkction  of  the  promise  of  absolution  gleamed 
upon  his  heart.     The  most  devout  suppliant  would  have 


24 

his  fervour  abated,  il"  no  recollection  of  past  mercies  ani- 
mated Ills  hopes,  and  no  acts  of  praise  enlivened  his 
spirit.  On  this  account  it  is,  that  there  arc  introduced 
into  our  lituri^\',  those  changes  of  occupation,  of  subject, 
and  of  posture,  which,  by  diversifymg  our  business, 
render  it  more  interesting.  Indeed,  variety  in  our  acts  of 
worship  is  not  less  answerable  to  the  claims  of  the  Al- 
mighty, than  to  the  necessities  of  man.  ''  The  church, 
therefore,  diversifies  and  variegates  her  service  with 
friendly  exhortations,  humbling  confessions,  comforting 
absolutions,  fervent  pmyers,  hymns  and  psalms  of  cheer- 
ful praise,  and  with  die  \\Titings  of  the  prophets  and 
apostles  ;  to  a  participation  of  the  benefits  of  all  which, 
her  children  are  admitted  by  the  initiatory  sacrament  of 
baptism ;  as  afterwards  they  are  promoted  to  die  stature 
of  perfect  men  in  Christ  Jesus,  by  the  repeated  com- 
munications  of  his  Holy  Spirit  in  the  blessed  eucharist.'' 
In  this  view  of  it,  our  liturgy  is  as  a  well  furnished 
garden ;  in  which  are  shades  of  the  deepest  verdure,  and 
flowers  of  the  liveliest  hue,  waters  flowing  from  perennial 
fountains  to  fertilize  and  delight,  and  seats,  at  which,  at 
proper  intervals,  \ve  may  rest  and  be  refreshed. 

But  I  hasten  to  observe,  that  amidst  all  this  variet}', 
there  is  a  perfect  order.  The  different  materials  are  not 
thrown  together  without  design.  Every  part  is  placed 
according  to  principles  of  fitness.  Each  has  a  relation  to 
and  deixndiuice  upon  others.  And  the  pleasing  efft'ct  of 
the  whole,  is  the  result  of  that  happy  union  of  order  widi 
variety,  whicli  is  the  source  of  the  beautiful,  in  all  the 
works  of  luiturc  and  of  art.  It  would  be  instructive  and 
pleas;int,  to  contemplate  the  beauty  of  the  lUTangement  in 
ever)  jxut  of  the  common  prayer,  and  administration  of 
tlie  holy  sacraments.     But  to  do  it  completely  in  a  dis- 


25 

(iourse  is  impossible.  I  must  content  myself  with  point- 
ing out  to  you  some  of  the  most  prominent  features  of 
the  felicity  of  this  arrangement,  in  the  services,  which  we 
most  frequently  use.  Attentive  observation  in  your 
retired  hours,  will  discover  equal  beauty  and  utility  in  the 
disposition  of  the  parts  of  all  the  several  offices;  and 
many  excellencies  in  the  order  of  the  daili/  service,  which 
the  lapse  of  time  will  compel  me  to  leave  unnoticed. 

Interesting  is  the  scene,  when  a  congregation  are  as- 
sembled, as  a  people  whom  the  Most  High  hath  redeem- 
ed, to  worship  him  in  his  holy  temple.  How  solemn  the 
moment,  when  they  are  about  to  present  themselves 
before  the  Almighty!  To  collect  their  thoughts  and 
excite  in  them  a  due  solemnity,  the  service  opens  with 
some  passages  of  scripture  peculiarly  impressive.  To 
these  follows  an  address,  in  which  the  minister,  while  he 
sets  before  them  the  great  purposes  of  their  assembling 
together,  lams  chiefly  to  excite  in  them  humility,  and 
confidence  in  "Almighty  God,  their  heavenly  Father," 
and  invites  them  to  accompany  him  with  thpir  hearts  and 
voices  to  "  the  tlii'one  of  the  heavenly  grace."  After  this 
decent  preparation,  they  are  ready  to  bow  before  his  foot- 
stool. With  Avhat  sliall  they  begin  ?  Angels,  ye,  first 
and  last,  utter  only  adorations.  Spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect,  ye  break  fordi,  at  every  approacli  to  your  Creator, 
in  acts  of  praise.  But  sinful  men,  should  they  not  first 
propitiate  their  Maker,  before  they  offer  him  any  oblation? 
Accordingly  the  first  act  of  our  devotion  is  the  confession 
of  our  sins ;  a  confession,  so  ^comprehensive,  that  under 
some  one  or  other  of  its  general  clauses  every  fault,  with 
which  a  man  can  charge  himself,  may  be  included ;  and 
so  very  aflfecting,  that  his  heart  must  be  dead  to  all 
religious  emotions,  who  is  not  humbled  by  it  before  his 

D 


26 

'  God.  To  the  pious  penitent,  who  has  made  this  confes- 
sion, how  joyous  would  it  be,  could  he  hear  immediately 
from  the  throne  of  the  Almi,qht}%  ''  thy  sins  be  forgiven 
tluv!"  This  he  cannot  hear,  ^111  Jesus  shall  personally 
present  him  to  the  Father.  But,  behold,  for  their  comfort 
and  encouragement,  while  they  continue  in  the  flesh,  God 
"  hath  given  power  and  commandment  to  his  ministers, 
to  declare  and  pronounce  to  his  people,  being  penitent, 
the  absolution  and  remission  of  their  sins."  This  declara- 
tion,  therefore,  the  priest,  rising  from  before  the  throne, 
makes  to  the  people,  directly  after  their  confession.  And 
of  the  comfort  of  it,  ever}'  christian  who  is  conscious  that 
he  '^ truly  repents,  and  unfeignedly  believes  the  gospel," 
should  with  faith  avail  himself,  to  the  quieting  of  his 
conscience,  and  perfecting  of  his  gratitude  and  joy. 
Being  now  reconciled  to  God,  according  to  the  promises 
declared  to  our  race  in  Christ  Jesus,  \\e,  as  children 
adopted  anew  into  his  family,  extend  our  aflfections,  and 
lift  our  grateful  eyes  to  him  as  "our  Father;"  and 
address  to  him  that  summary  of  our  homage  and  desires, 
in  which  he,  who  purchased  our  forgiveness,  hath  taught 
us  to  pray.  Our  spirits  being  relieved  from  the  burthen 
of  their  fears,  and  revivcxl  by  the  tenor  of  this  pra}  er 
which  his  Son  hath  authorised  to  address  to  our  Maker, 
\ve  rise  upon  our  feet,  and  with  hearts  glowing  with 
devotion,  in  a  most  ancient  doxolog)',  an  animated 
hymn,  and  a  portion  of  the  sacred  psalms,  ascribe  e\er- 
lasting  glory  to  him,  in  language  of  inspiration  celebrating 
his  praise.  This  first  jxirt  of  the  service  how  beautiful 
it  is !  How  pro}KT  the  order — how  natural  and  signifi- 
cant the  transitions — how  happy  our  minds,  when  we  sit 
clown — how  well  prepared  to  listen  to  the  instructions  of 
God's  holy  word !     A  lesson  is  read  from  the  Old  Testa- 


27 

ment.  At  the  close  of  it,  Ave  rise,  and  cherish  the  flame 
of  our  devotion  by  celebrating,  in  suitable  hymns,  his 
character  and  works  and  grace.  There  is  then  read  a 
lesson  from  the  New  Testament,  and  by  this  arrangement 
the  law  and  the  gospel,  the  prophets  and  the  apostles,  are 
brought,  at  a  suitable  ^  time,  to  adorn  and  bless  our 
service ;  and  the  important  truth  is  inculcated,  that 
throughout  the  Bible  tliere  is  but  one  scheme  carried  on, 
issuing  in  the  redemption  of  the  world  tlirough  Jesus,  the 
son  of  God.  To  the  lesson  from  the  New  Testament, 
there  follow  appropriate  hymns,  in  which  we  express  our 
adorations  and  joy.  And  then  having  heard  the  scrip- 
tures, we,  in  the  presence  of  each  other,  of  the  world,  and 
of  God,  \^ith  great  propriety  rehearse  a  summary  of  the 
truths,  which  have  been  received  from  revelation  ;  by  our 
amen  declaring  our  assent  to  them,  and  our  resolution  to 
maintain  them.  Knowing  in  whom  we  may  believe,  and 
what  are  our  interests,  and  for  how  great  mercies  we  are 
indebted  to  the  Most  High,  we,  after  a  reciprocation  of 
holy  wishes  between  the  priest  and  people,  (venerable  for 
the  antiquity  of  its  use,  and  for  its  christian  courteous- 
ness),  prostrate  ourselves  again  before  the  Almighty,  and 
in  a  series  of  prayers,  engage  in  acts  of  supplication ;  in 
which  spiritual  blessings  are  magnified  above  temporal 
ones ;  the  church  is  regarded  more  than  the  world ;  the 
less  is  sought  after  the  greater ;  and  sometimes,  as  in  the 
litany,  whch  was  originally  a  separate  service,  but  now  is 
incorporated  into  the  morning  prayer,  there  is  a  regular 
transition  from  invocation  of  mercy  to  deprecation  of  evil, 
and  from  deprecation  of  evil  to  supplication  of  favours ; 
in  all  which  the  concerns  of  the  soul  are  remembered 
before  those  of  the  body — the  concerns  of  the  church 
before  those  of  the  world — the  concerns  of  the  world,  and 


28 

ihc  powers  wliuin  God  hath  ordained  to  rule  it,  before 
those  of  indi\  ichials  ;  and  yet  there  is  not  a  thing,  need- 
ful for  the  bcxly,  A\liich  is  forgotten,  nor  an  individual, 
who  niuN  not  find  a  petition  adapted  to  his  own  case* 
As  we  draw  towards  the  close  of  this  service,  \ve  arc- 
called  tipon  to  exalt  oiur  gratitude  to  tlie  highest  point 
uf  fervour;  and  to  fxpand  our  cliarity  to  the  utmost 
extent.  In  a  prayer  ibr  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men, 
>\e,  as  we  A\()itld  ask  an  alms  for  the  dumb  beggar,  sup- 
j)licate  appropriate  mercies  for  all  our  race.  And  in  a 
general  thanksgiving,  which  bums  with  the  holiest  and 
most  ardent  spirit  of  praise,  we  honour  God  for  all  his 
mercies  to  us,  and  to  all  men.  An  excellent  summary, 
from  the  pen  of  the  pious  Chrysostom,  of  all  for  which 
the  christian  can  be  solicitous,  follows  :  and  the  bene- 
dictory prayer,  which  the  spirit  of  inspiration  hath  hallow- 
ed, closes  the  daily  service. 

I  must  forbear  to  enter  at  present  upon  the  office  of  the 
commiuiion.     This  is  jx^rhaps  the  most  finished  piece  of 
devotion,  which  exists  in  the  world.     In  a  hasty  manner 
to  speak  of  its  excellence  would  not  satisfy  my  admiration 
of  it.     Happily  its  beauties  are  so  striking,  and  imjjres- 
sive,  that  they  who  use  it,  need  not  to  have  them  describ- 
ed.    No  good  christian  can  join  in  the  celebration  of  this 
office,  widiout  discovering  in  it  as  high  perfection  of  the 
beauty  of  holiness,  as  he  can  expect  to  behold  upon  earth,. 
It  is  objected  to  the  arrangement  of  our  liturg}',  that 
die  many    variations,   and   freciuent   risings   and   sittings, 
diminish  its  solemnity.     Hut  to  those  who  have  studied 
the  principles  by  w  hich  it  is  framed,  these  changes  ha\  e  a 
lively  significance  ;  and  w  hile  they  i\re  calculated  to  keep 
attention  awake,  give  to  the  service  a  becoming  character 
of  activitv. 


29 

It  has  also  been  objected,  that  the  apostrophes  and 
short  ejaculations,  which  abound  in  our  liturgy,  produce 
confusion,  and  are  useless.  But,  they  are  of  precious 
value,  as  relics  of  primitive  devotiwi ;  are  many  of  them 
important,  as  connecting  ligaments  in  the  system,  or 
powerful  expressions  in  themselves  of  true  piety.  "  In 
these  connexions,"  says  an  admirer  of  the  liturgy,  "  the 
wisdom  of  the  church  hath  imitated  the  skill  of  natui-e. 
For  as  in  framing  the  body  of  man,  nature  has  not  only 
formed  the  limbs  in  proportion,  and  placed  them  in  order, 
but  has  also  fastened  them  with  joints,  which  seem  made 
no  less  for  beauty  than  necessity ;  so  in  composing  the 
body  of  our  common  prayer,  the  church  liath  not  only 
framed  the  se^'eral  offices  of  a  due  length,  and  ranged 
them  in  a  just  method,  but  has  likewise  united  them  with 
versicles,  as  it  were  with  joints ;  which,  though  less  re^ 
garded,  are  yet  the  no  less  beautiful  than  necessary  parts 
of  our  liturgy ;  so  that  v/e  shall  find  as  great  comeliness 
and  art  in  these  connexions,  as  tliere  are  in  the  composi- 
tions themselves." 

After  this  manner  are  Avisdom  and  propriety  displayed 
throughout  the  service,  in  the  arrangement  of  its  parts. 
The  choice  gold,  w^hich  with  so  much  care  was  collected 
for  the  foundation  of  it,  is  not  thrown  together  in  a  pro- 
miscuous heap.  It  is  '*  wroughf — and  wrought  with 
such  skill,  as  to  produce  in  the  system  all  the  cliarms  am! 
advantages,  which  are  found  in  what  is  significant, 
orderly,  and  beautiful.  And  the  effect  proposed  in  insti- 
tuting the  service,  is  by  the  arrangement  niost  sureh' 
accomplished.  The  churcli  is  enabled  to  piescnt  hei*seH' 
before  her  Lord,  in  a  clothing  suitable  to  her  character 
and  condition  ;    and   her   Lord,  \\\\q.\\  he  beholds  her  iii. 


^ 


30 

this  good  and  {^loiious  attire,  *'  hatii  pleasure  in  her 
beauty." 

The  hist  ])roj)erty  of  our  liturgy,  wliich  we  shall 
consider,  is  that  it  is  hoi}-.  Without  this  quality  no 
offering  can  be  acceptable  unto  God.  Into  his  ancient 
tabernacle  and  temple,  nothing,  that  had  the  least  im- 
purity, was  allowed  to  enter.  To  his  altar  no  sacrifice, 
that  liad  any  blemish,  was  permitted  to  be  brought. 
Upon  the  forehead  of  the  priests,  and  upon  the  holy  vest- 
ments, and  upon  all  the  utensils  of  the  sacred  place,  was 
Inscribed  holiness  unto  the  Lord.  And,  it  is  its  most 
important  commendation,  that  the  service  provided  for  us 
to  offer  in  his  sanctuary,  is  pre-eminently  holy. 

Shall  I  sjKak  to  }ou  of  its  language ?  Much  of  it  is 
the  huiguage  of  inspiration.  All  of  it  is  grand  and 
reverent.  So  pure  and  chaste  is  it,  so  free  from  im- 
becility and  corruption,  that  perhaps  there  is  no  better 
standiird  of  the  excellencies  of  our  tongue.  If  there  be 
here  and  Uierc  an  ancient  phrase,  or  expression,  this  does 
not  diminish,  but  rather  adds  to  its  solemnity.  Who 
would  exchange  any  part  of  the  rich,  majestic,  and 
durable  clothing  of  wrought  gold,  for  the  fripixTies  of 
modern  decoration  ;  the  tinsel  and  gaud}'  affectations  with 
which  some  would  refine  it? 

Shall  I  speak  to  you  of  its  doctrines  and  sentiments? 
They  are  purely  scriptural.  The  pattern  of  them  was 
brought  by  Jesus  from  heaven.  Nothing  is  there  among 
them,  which  has  not  aflinity  Avith  the  sacred  truths,  which 
God  halh  taui^hi  us  to  revere.  They  aix?  holy,  as  the 
gold  of  the  censers,  upon  \\ hich  the  ministering  spirits  in 
heaven  offer  the  prayers  of  the  saints. 

Shall  I  sjx^ak  to  you  of  its  forms  and  ceremonies? 
^riicre  is  nolliing  in  them  to  debase  the  worshipper  oi 


31. 

offend  his  God.  No  tarnish  of  pious  fraud  rusts  upon 
them.  No  stain  of  human  vanity  defiles  them.  They 
are  simple,  pure,  significant ;  wholly  calculated  to  give  an 
expression  of  sanctity  to  the  manner,  that  it  may  corres- 
pond with  the  spirit  of  the  holy  service. 

Shall  I  speak  to  you  of  the  object  to  whom  it  is  ad- 
dressed ?  He  is  the  one  only  living  and  true  God,  in  the 
'4t  Trinity  of  persons,  as  he  has  graciously  revealed  himself  to 
mankind  in  the  oracles  of  truth ;  the  Being,  before  whom 
the  company  of  heaven  rest  not  day  nor  night,  saying, 
holy,  holy,  holy.  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  was,  and  is, 
and  is  to  come. 

Shall  I  speak  to  you  of  its  tendency  ?  It  is  to  inspire 
us  with  an  abhorrence  of  impurity  —  to  sanctify  our 
thoughts,  and  elevate  our  aifections — to  beget  in  us  holi- 
ness of  heart  and  life.  He,  who  duly  uses  it,  will  be 
made  more  pious  and  virtuous  by  it.  As  Moses,  by  long 
contemplation  of  the  divine  nature  in  the  mount,  caught  a 
gleam  of  its  lustre,  with  v/hich  his  countenance  beamed, 
so  he,  who  shall  long  and  constantly  use  this  service,  may 
at  length,  in  the  temper  of  his  soul,  and  conduct  of  his  Hfe, 
be  changed  into  its  glory. 

In  short,  when  I  speak  of  the  holiness  of  our  service, 
shall  I  err,  if  I  say,  that  no  sacrifice,  more  perfect  in  this 
respect,  hath  been  prepared  to  be  offered  to  God,  in  this 
world,  since  the  fall  of  man,  except  the  sacrifice  of  his 
adorable  Son  ?  Let  us  bring  to  the  use  of  it,  dispositions 
and  affections,  correspondent  to  its  character;  and  we  shall 
not  fail  to  "  worship  the  Lord  with  an  holy  worship." 

I  have  now  finished  what  I  proposed  to  do,  in  treating 
upon  the  liturgy  of  our  church.  In  reviewing  what  has 
been  said,  you  cannot,  my  brethren,  but  perceive,  that  we 
ought  to  consider  ourselves,  as  highly  distinguished  by 


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